(SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of .500 teams clash in Charlotte Monday night
when the Bobcats welcome the Atlanta Hawks to The Time Warner Cable Arena for
a Southeast Division battle.

Steve Clifford returns to the bench for the Bobcats. He missed Friday's loss
at home to the New York Knicks after a procedure placed two stents in his
heart.

Clifford complained of chest pains Thursday night and checked into the
hospital. The procedure occurred on Friday and Patrick Ewing took Clifford's
spot in the loss to his former squad.

On Friday, Ewing did his best, but the Bobcats got buried by the Knicks,
101-91.

"I was nervous at first but once the game started I was able to calm down and
do my thing," Ewing said.

Kemba Walker led Charlotte with 25 points and five assists. Gerald Henderson
chipped in 18 points, followed by 14 from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. They were
the only Bobcats in double figures, but Bismack Biyombo pulled down 11
rebounds.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Bobcats, who will be
without star center and prize free agent Al Jefferson, who has a bone bruise
in his right ankle.

The Hawks have rotated wins and losses this season and the latest was a 104-94
victory over the Orlando Magic Saturday night at home.

With 3:50 left in the game, Atlanta trailed by one, but closed the game on a
10-0 run. That victory pushed the Hawks to 2-0 at home in the early part of
the season.

"It's a game of runs. You always want to have the last run. So tonight we
did," said Kyle Korver, who has hit a 3-pointer in 79 consecutive games, which
tied Michael Adams for the second-longest streak in NBA history.

Six Hawks scored in double figures on Saturday, led by 19 and 13 assists from
Jeff Teague. Paul Millsap also contributed a double-double with 18 points and
11 rebounds.

The Hawks only committed 13 turnovers in the victory. Atlanta leads the NBA in
assists (28.3) and steals (10.5).

The Hawks have won eight straight against the Bobcats, spanning the last two
seasons. Atlanta has taken four in a row and five of its last six in Charlotte
and has home tilts against the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers this
week.